All speculations on Kazakhstan reportedly changing its foreign policy course have no substantiations: President’s spokesman

17 октября 2012, 11:10

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President’s spokesman Dauren Abayev

Kazakhstan remains committed to its foreign policy key points, President’s spokesman Dauren Abayev said in a recent interview for Interfax-Kazakhstan.

“All the speculations on Kazakhstan reportedly changing its course have no substantiations”, he said October 16 when commenting on some of President Nazarbayev’s remarks [voiced during his visit to Turkey] that have been interpreted in the media as if Kazakhstan were going to give up on integration with Russia in favor of pan-Turkism ideas.

“Some quotes of President Nazarbayev have been taken out of the broader context and misinterpreted (…) during the talks with Turkey’s leadership President Nazarbayev dwelt on importance of maintaining the cultural heritage and traditions of Turkic-speaking groups, rather than on current relationship with Russia”, Mr. Abayev said.

“Cooperation between Kazakhstan and Turkey is based on common Turkic roots. Turkey was the first to acknowledge independence of Kazakhstan. That is the fact Kazakhstan will never forget. I want to reiterate that Kazakhstan has been pursuing a so-called multi-vector policy and trying to build up trust-based relationship with all of its partners. Russia is a key strategic partner of Kazakhstan. The two nations rely on strong time-tested bonds and enjoy a dynamic relationship”, the spokesman said.

He also reminded that President Nazarbayev had been a major initiator of the Customs Union and the Single Economic Space (of Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus).